ANDY RUIZ JR might have just blown his chance at becoming a serious heavyweight world champion or suckered the world with a most cunning trick.
The Mexican heavyweight drew gasps when he weighed 20st 3lb at Friday afternoon’s weight-in, for his Saturday rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Andy Ruiz Jr drew gasps when he weighed 20st 3lb at Friday afternoon’s weight-inCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Just six months ago in New York, he weighed only 19st 2lb and in April, just a few weeks earlier, he had beaten Alexander Dimitrenko at 18st 7lb.
Joshua’s fans soaked up the news, believing their 16st 13lb hero will now be able to jab and move rings around the hulking champ.
But what if Ruiz, who wore a New York Knicks vest on Wednesday to tease Joshua about his summer loss, wanted the world to believe he had ballooned up like infamous one-fight wonder Buster Douglas?
Douglas stunned the world by beating the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson in February 1990.
But nine months later he had piled on 15lbs (1lb off 1st) – exactly the same as Ruiz has – and Evander Holyfield smashed away inside three.
Ruiz was fully dressed in trainers, tracksuit bottoms, a t-shirt and an outrageous sombrero. He also took off a hulking heavy bracelet and dunked it into his pocket.
What else was in his pockets and could anything have been hidden under his hat or top?
Thomas Hearns – one of history’s most celebrated welterweights – stuffed his pockets full of coins when he leapt up again from middleweight to light-heavy to face Dennis Andries in March 1987.
And another of the Four Kings pulled a similarly sneaky trick to help him move up.
Iconic 147lbs legend Sugar Ray Leonard challenged Donny Lalonde for the WBC light-heavyweight crown on November 7 1988.
When Sugar tipped the scales, he was 165lb, Lalonde took the microphone and said, “I’m not only fighting an old welterweight, I’m fighting an old, fat welterweight.”
The Mexican weighed in wearing a sombrero, jewellery and trainersCredit: Alamy Live News
Buster Douglas stunned the world by beating the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson in February 1990Credit: AP:Associated Press
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
